Incinerator toilet having a vertically movable incinerator chamber lid

ABSTRACT

An incinerator toilet having an incinerator chamber beneath a waste receiving bowl and a vertically and thence laterally movable lid for normally closing the top of the incinerator. The invention makes possible an effective metal to metal seal between the lid and the chamber&#39;&#39;s upper inner periphery.

1*June 24, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Blankenship lNCINERATOR TOILET HAVING A VERTICALLY MOVABLE INCINERATOR CHAMBER LID [75] Inventor: Ernest Bayne Blankenship, Irving,

Tex.

[73] Assignee: Research Products/Incinolet Corporation, Dallas, Tex.

[ Notice. The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to June 24, 1991, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Nov. 6, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 87,413

[52] US. Cl. 4/131; 110/9 E [51] Int. Cl A47k 11/02 [58] Field olSearch 4/118, 131; 110/9 R,9E

Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or FirmArthur F. Zobal {57] ABSTRACT An incinerator toilet having an incinerator chamber beneath a waste receiving bowl and a vertically and thence laterally movable lid for normally closing the top of the incinerator. The invention makes possible an effective metal to metal seal between the lid and the Chamber's upper inner periphery.

18 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUM 24 I975 ATTORNEY INCINERATOR TOILET HAVING A VERTICALLY MOVABLE INCINERATOR CHAMBER LID This invention relates to incinerator toilets and has reference to sealing means between an incinerator chamber and a lid therefor located beneath a waste re ceiving bowl.

Heretofore a problem in incinerator toilets has been the provision of an adequate seal around the incinerator chamber cover or lid. Without an effective seal, particularly during an incinerating operation, obnoxious fumes escape upwardly through and around the toilet seat. In those constructions where resilient seals were used the heat in the incinerator soon caused the soft material to deteriorate and in metal to metal seals a sliding action was necessary because of the presence of a waste receiving bowl immediately above the normally closed incinerator chamber. Sliding metal lids were objectionable because of restrictions of space and because of jamming of metal to metal in sliding guide means.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved seal between a lid or cover and the top open ing of an incinerator chamber.

A particular object is to provide a durable and effective metal to metal seal for the purpose above referred to.

A further object is to provide a metal to metal seal between a lid and incinerator chamber wherein the lid is initially vertically movable and then laterally movable so as to avoid contact with a waste receiving bowl positioned thereabove.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of an incinerator toilet according to the invention.

FIG, 2 is a vertical sectional view taken at a right angle with respect to FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 3-5 are perspective views of the top portion of the incinerator chamber, lid and actuating mechanism, and, respectively, showing the lid in its closed position, initially open position and its fully open position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical broken sectional view of a seal according to the invention.

The incinerator toilet shown includes a generally oval shaped housing 10 having an arcuate front panel 11, a bottom 12, feet 13 and a top 14 of molded heat resisting synthetic resin. The forward area of the top 14 includes a recessed upper bowl portion 15, and above and around the bowl there is seat 16 and a hinged lid 17, both of which are mounted in the usual manner. The hinged seat lid 17 is distinct from the incinerator chamber lid, hereinafter described. A lower bowl portion 18 is positioned beneath the upper bowl portion and is transversely divided into halves 19. As best shown in FIG. I, the lower bowl portion halves I9 are pivotally mounted on the outer surface of the upper bowl portion 15 by hinges 20.

The incinerator chamber 21 includes a vertically disposed open member of cylindrical or similar shape and comprised of spaced inner and outer walls 22 and 23 having top and bottom ring closures 24 and 25. The diameter of the chamber 21 is less than the width of the housing 10 and is mounted on a semicircular sheet metal support 21a. Around the chamber 21 there is a circular effluent collection ring 26 which communicates with the interior of the chamber by means of perforations 27 in the inner and outer incinerator walls 22 and 23. The space between the inner and outer walls 22 and 23 is filled with a heat activated permeable catalyst 28 such as oxidized aluminum pellets. An inside vent 29 connected with the rear area of the receptacle 26 discharges adjacent the intake ofa motor driven blower 30 which, in turn, is connected with an outside vent 31 by means ofa collar 32 in the rear wall of the housing 10.

An ash pan 33 is slidably mounted on a stepped support 34 on the housing bottom 12 within the chamber support 210 and has a handle 35 on its front surface which is accessible by means of a removable panel 36 beneath the front panel 11 0f the housing 10. Around the surface of the inner wall 23 of the chamber there is a heating element 37 mounted on brackets 38. While the heating element shown is electrical other heaters, not shown, such as gas, may be used.

Around the inner periphery of the upper incinerator ring 24 there is an inwardly and downwardly sloped flange 39 for receiving and supporting an incinerator chamber lid 40, the details of which are best shown in FIG. 6. The lid 40 has a concave upper surface 41 and a perpendicular periphery 42 which engages the inner diameter 43 of the upper chamber ring 24. Similarly, an inwardly spaced shoulder 44 around the lids bottom 45 engages the inner periphery of the flange 39. The lid 40 is of assembled sheet material and has a filler of suitable insulating material 46.

Opposite upper surfaces of the lid 40 connect with lower inwardly turned flanges 47 on vertical actuating plates 48. Similarly, other inwardly turned flanges 49 on the incinerator ring 24 support vertical stationary plates 50 outwardly of the actuating plates 48 and are parallel therewith. Upper and lower studs 51 and 52 project inwardly from opposing faces of the stationary plates 50 and are slidably engaged in J slots 53 in the actuating plates 48.

A shaft 54 is pivotally mounted in openings 55 in the lower forward edges of the stationary plates 50 and has integral rearwardly extending arms 56 which extend substantially across the inner faces of the actuating plates. The ends of the arms 56 are pivotally connected with upper rear areas of the actuating plates 48 by links 57. A lever 58 is pivoted intermediate its ends on one side of the housing 10 and has a foot pedal 59 on its forward end, whereas the remaining end of the lever is pivotally connected with a link 60 which, in turn, is pivotally connected with an outer arm 61 on the shaft 54. A coiled tension spring 62 is connected between the outer arm 61 and the outer surface of the effluent collection ring 26. The hinged bowl halves 19 are normally closed by leafsprings 63 and 64, one of which (63) is mounted on the shaft 54 and has a roller 65 on its extending end for contacting one of the bowl halves, and the other spring (64) is mounted on the chamber lid 40 and has a roller 66 on its extending end for contacting the other bowl half.

In operation, after the bowl has been used, the user steps on the foot pedal 59. This action operates the first lever 58, thee link 60, the outer arm 61, the shaft 54, the rearwardly extending arms 56, the links 57 and the actuating plates 48, and thereby initially raises the incinerator lid 40 as shown in FIG. 4. The continued upward movement of the actuating plates 48, and the action of the .1 slots on the studs 51-52, causes the lid 40 to swing rearwardly as shown in FIG. 5 and clear of the depending bowl halves U. The movement of the shaft 54 and the lid 40 causes the springs 63 and 64 to release the bowl halves 19 which then swing open by gravity. Upon releasing the pedal 59, the tension spring 62 reverses the described operation and the lid 40 again seats in the chamber ring 24 as shown in FIG. 6. The heating element 37 may be activated by any suitable switch means, not shown, and during and after the incinerating operation the effluent is drawn from the chamber 26, over the heated catalyst pellets 28, through the collection ring 26 and is then blown out through the vent 31.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An incinerator toilet comprising:

an incinerator chamber having an open upper end,

a recessed seat located below the top of said upper end of said chamber and extending around the opening of said upper end,

a lid for opening and closing said upper end of said chamber,

said lid having a seat adapted to fit into and engage said recessed seat to close said upper end of said chamber, a bowl disposed above said chamber and including an upper bowl portion and a lower bowl portion,

said lower bowl portion comprising hinged sections adapted to move inward together and to move out ward away from each other for closing and opening the bottom end of said lower bowl portion,

means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end of said incinerator chamber to open said upper end,

said hinged sections being allowed to move outward away from each other to open the bottom portion of said lower bowl portion when said lid is moved laterally of said upper end of said chamber to its open position to allow substance in said bowl to pass into said incinerator chamber.

2. The incinerator toilet of claim 1 wherein:

the outer periphery of said lid is adapted to fit within said recessed seat of said chamber.

3. The incinerator toilet of claim 2 wherein:

said lid comprises a unitary member free from passages extending therethrough.

4. The incinerator toilet of claim 3 wherein:

said lid has an upper recessed surface to be located below said lower bowl portion when said lid is in its closed position.

5. The incinerator toilet of claim 3 wherein:

said recessed seat comprises downwardly extending wall means and inwardly extending wall means, the outer periphery of said lid is adapted to fit within said downwardly extending wall means.

6. The incinerator toilet of claim 5 wherein:

said inwardly extending wall means slope downwardly.

7. The incinerator toilet of claim 1 comprising:

means for heating the contents in said chamber,

channel means located on the outside of said incinerator chamber and in communication with the interior thereof by way of apertures formed through the side wall of said incinerator chamber, and

means in communication with said channel means for drawing gases from the interior of said incinerator chamber by way of said apertures and said channel means.

8. The incinerator toilet of claim 7 comprising:

an odor reducing means located between said channel means and the inner wall of said incinerator chamber and in the flow path of gases passing from the interior of said chamber through said apertures to said channel means.

9. The incinerator toilet of claim 1 wherein said means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end comprises:

transverse shaft means pivotally mounted outwardly of said lower bowl portion,

means for pivoting said shaft means in a given direction, and

means coupled to said lid and to said shaft means for causing said lid to be initially raised out of said recessed seat and then moved laterally of said upper end of said incinerator to its open position when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.

10. The incinerator toilet of claim 9 comprising:

stationary guide means located on opposite sides of said chamber and,

plate means coupled to opposite sides of said lid and having slots for receiving said guide means for allowing said plate means to move initially upward and then along a path which extends laterally and upward when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.

11. The incinerator toilet of claim 10 wherein said slots comprise J shaped slots formed in said plate means.

12. The incinerator toilet of claim 10 wherein:

said hinged sections comprise two sections hinged at their upper ends, and

spring means for contacting said hinged sections when said lid is in its closed position for normally maintaining said hinged sections in their closed positions.

13. The incinerator toilet of claim 12 wherein said spring means comprises:

a first spring connected to said shaft means for contacting one of said hinged sections, and

a second spring connected to said chamber lid for contacting the other of said hinged sections.

14. The incinerator toilet of claim 3 comprising:

means for heating the contents in said chamber,

channel means located on the outside of said inciner ator chamber and in communication with the interior thereof by way of apertures formed through the side wall of said incinerator chamber, and

means in communication with said channel means for drawing gases from the interior of said incinerator chamber by way of said apertures and said channel means.

15. The incinerator toilet of claim 3 wherein said means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end comprises:

transverse shaft means pivotally mounted outwardly of said lower bowl portion,

means for pivoting said shaft means in a given direction, and

means coupled to said lid and to said shaft for causing said lid to be initially raised out of said recessed seat and then swung laterally of said upper end of said incinerator clear of said hinged sections to its open position when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.

16. The incinerator toilet of claim 7 wherein said means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end comprises:

transverse shaft means pivotally mounted outwardly of said lower bowl portion,

means for pivoting said shaft means in a given direction, and

means coupled to said lid and to said shaft for causing said lid to be initially raised out of said recessed seat and then moved laterally of said upper end of said incinerator clear of said hinged sections to its open position when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.

17. The incinerator toilet of claim 14 wherein said means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end comprises:

transverse shaft means pivotally mounted outwardly of said lower bowl portion,

means for pivoting said shaft means in a given direction, and

means coupled to said lid and to said shaft for causing said lid to be initially raised out of said recessed seat and then moved laterally of said upper end of said incinerator clear of said hinged sections to its open position when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.

18. The incinerator toilet of claim I wherein:

said hinged sections comprise two sections hinged at their upper ends, and

first and second holding means for contacting said hinged sections when said lid is in its closed position for normally maintaining said hinged sections in their closed positions,

one of said holding means being connected to said lid and adapted to hold its hinged section away from said lid as it is moved laterally to its open position. 

1. An incinerator toilet comprising: an incinerator chamber having an open upper end, a recessed seat located below the top of said upper end of said chamber and extending around the opening of said upper end, a lid for opening and closing said upper end of said chamber, said lid having a seat adapted to fit into and engage said recessed seat to close said upper end of said chamber, a bowl disposed above said chamber and including an upper bowl portion and a lower bowl portion, said lower bowl portion comprising hinged sections adapted to move inward together and to move outward away from each other for closing and opening the bottom end of said lower bowl portion, means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end of said incinerator chamber to open said upper end, said hinged sections being allowed to move outward away from each other to open the bottom portion of said lower bowl portion when said lid is moved laterally of said upper end of said chamber to its open position to allow substance in said bowl to pass into said incinerator chamber.
 2. The incinerator toilet of claim 1 wherein: the outer periphery of said lid is adapted to fit within said recessed seat of said chamber.
 3. The incinerator toilet of claim 2 wherein: said lid comprises a unitary member free from passages extending therethrough.
 4. The incinerator toilet of claim 3 wherein: said lid has an upper recessed surface to be located below said lower bowl portion when said lid is in its closed position.
 5. The incinerator toilet of claim 3 wherein: said recessed seat comprises downwardly extending wall means and inwardly extending wall means, the outer periphery of said lid is adapted to fit within said downwardly extending wall means.
 6. The incinerator toilet of claim 5 wherein: said inwardly extending wall means slope downwardly.
 7. The incinerator toilet of claim 1 comprising: means for heating the contents in said chamber, channel means located on the outside of said incinerator chamber and in communication with the interior thereof by way of apertures formed through the side wall of said incinerator chamber, and means in communication with said channel means for drawing gases from the interior of said incinerator chamber by way of said apertures and said channel means.
 8. The incinerator toilet of claim 7 comprising: an odor reducing means located between said channel means and the inner wall of said incinerator chamber and in the flow path of gases passing from the interior of said chamber through said apertures to said channel means.
 9. The incinerator toilet of claim 1 wherein said means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end comprises: transverse shaft means pivotally mounted outwardly of said lower bowl portion, means for pivoting said shaft means in a given direction, and means coupled to said lid and to said shaft means for causing said lid to be initially raised out of said recessed seat and then moved laterally of said upper end of said incinerator to its open position when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.
 10. The incinerator toilet of claim 9 comprising: stationary guide means located on opposite sides of said chamber and, plate means coupled to opposite sides of said lid and having slots For receiving said guide means for allowing said plate means to move initially upward and then along a path which extends laterally and upward when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.
 11. The incinerator toilet of claim 10 wherein said slots comprise J shaped slots formed in said plate means.
 12. The incinerator toilet of claim 10 wherein: said hinged sections comprise two sections hinged at their upper ends, and spring means for contacting said hinged sections when said lid is in its closed position for normally maintaining said hinged sections in their closed positions.
 13. The incinerator toilet of claim 12 wherein said spring means comprises: a first spring connected to said shaft means for contacting one of said hinged sections, and a second spring connected to said chamber lid for contacting the other of said hinged sections.
 14. The incinerator toilet of claim 3 comprising: means for heating the contents in said chamber, channel means located on the outside of said incinerator chamber and in communication with the interior thereof by way of apertures formed through the side wall of said incinerator chamber, and means in communication with said channel means for drawing gases from the interior of said incinerator chamber by way of said apertures and said channel means.
 15. The incinerator toilet of claim 3 wherein said means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end comprises: transverse shaft means pivotally mounted outwardly of said lower bowl portion, means for pivoting said shaft means in a given direction, and means coupled to said lid and to said shaft for causing said lid to be initially raised out of said recessed seat and then swung laterally of said upper end of said incinerator clear of said hinged sections to its open position when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.
 16. The incinerator toilet of claim 7 wherein said means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end comprises: transverse shaft means pivotally mounted outwardly of said lower bowl portion, means for pivoting said shaft means in a given direction, and means coupled to said lid and to said shaft for causing said lid to be initially raised out of said recessed seat and then moved laterally of said upper end of said incinerator clear of said hinged sections to its open position when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.
 17. The incinerator toilet of claim 14 wherein said means for initially raising said lid out of said recessed seat and then moving said lid laterally of said upper end comprises: transverse shaft means pivotally mounted outwardly of said lower bowl portion, means for pivoting said shaft means in a given direction, and means coupled to said lid and to said shaft for causing said lid to be initially raised out of said recessed seat and then moved laterally of said upper end of said incinerator clear of said hinged sections to its open position when said shaft means is pivoted in said given direction.
 18. The incinerator toilet of claim 1 wherein: said hinged sections comprise two sections hinged at their upper ends, and first and second holding means for contacting said hinged sections when said lid is in its closed position for normally maintaining said hinged sections in their closed positions, one of said holding means being connected to said lid and adapted to hold its hinged section away from said lid as it is moved laterally to its open position. 